Running some aviation related software to determine aircraft TBO(Time Between Overhaul) stats. Thought might be some interest in responding to a poll re' problems encountered versus accured mileage. If sufficent responses rcvd to calculate meaningful data will post.

Reply as follows:

Vehicle: C230, C240, C320, C320 Wagon, Other C-series (CLK, C55 etc.)
Year of Manufacture:
Total Mileage:
Problems v Mileage:
- 0-1000
- 1001-3000
- 3001-5000
- 5001-To A service
- A service to B Service

Please include only problems which required a) dealer service, b) warranty action. Do not include problems related to after market mods.

 

Vehicle: C320
Year of Manufacture: 01
Total Mileage: 17000
Problems v Mileage: - A service to B Service (approx 14000 miles)
Problem(s):
1. electrical, incl drivers door controls,windows and seat controls.
2. electrical, radio failed
3. error msg - CHK COOLANT TEMP

 

Vehicle: C230
Year of Manufacture: 02
Total Mileage: 5300 kms
Problems v Mileage: 0-5300 kms
Problem(s):
1. Electronic govenor won't let me go above 130 mph.
2. Casette loudness underpowered (solved with Audio 10).
3. No CD (solved with Audio 10).

 

Vehicle: C230 Sports Coupe
Year of Manufacture: 02
Total Mileage: 2352
Problems v Mileage: 1001-3000
Problem(s):
1. Weather stripping across top of windshield needed replacement.
2. Cargo hatch cover replaced (pulley falling off).
3. Excess headliner tucked under panel.

All in all - minor stuff (knock on wood!).

 

Vehicle: C230K
Year of Manufacture: 2002
Total Mileage: 6,300
Problems v. Mileage: 5001 to A Service
Problems:
1. Thermostat and coolant sensor failure (triggered check engine light)
2. Noisy upper strut support bearing
3. Replaced pass side window regulator
4. Seat memory system failure
5. Smart key failure
6. Broken under seat bracket.

 

Vehicle: C240
Year of Manufacture: 2001 (2002 model)
Total Mileage: 13,250
Problems v Mileage:
- 5001-To A service
Problems:
1. Steering wheel lock motor jammed
(prevented starting car - towed to dealer)
2. Passenger seat headrest rattle - corrected
3. Front sway bar bushing noise - corrected
4. Driver seat frame noise - not corrected

 

8K...No problems, none, nada, zip.

 

Vehicle: C230k Coupe
Year of Manufacture: 2001 (2002 model)
Total Mileage: 15,250
Problems vs. Mileage:
A service to B service
Problems: (at A service)
1. Driver side door weather seal - replaced
2. Passenger seat headrest rattle - repaired
3. Front end noise - replaced bushings
4. Pana roof squeaks - replaced bellows
5. Passenger seat frame noise - not corrected
6. AudioPilot Volume issues - set incorrectly to -9db at A Service, reset correctly to 0db at 15,000 mile oil change and tire rotation

Only complaint: I have yet to recieve a "complimentary car wash" due to water restrictions

 

Lots of feedback from Coupe owners, not much from 240/320 etc. Will need more input to make the sample sizes significant.

 

Replys and extraction from other threads/sites to date do not provide sample sizes large enough to be statistically meaningful. The following extrapolations are provided for info, but should not be regarded as reflective of population cross section.

Information Base:75
Mileage band of highest problem occurance:3000-A Service
Model with largest number of reported problems: C230
Model with least number of reported problems: C320
Most frequent problem area: QA/QC
Least frequent problem area: Suspension/Tires
Problem area requiring largest number of repeat corrective attempts:Electronic
Most Frequent Safety related issues:Uncommanded engine shut down/fuel pump failure
Fault correction on first attempt: 58%
Average Vehicle Out of Service Time: 36 hours

 

 

Vehicle: C270CDI
Year of Manufacture: 2001
Total Milage: 28243
Problems v Mileage: 5001 To A service

- Oil level sensor replaced (faulty reading)
- Clutch replaced (very heavy to use, problem returned later, still not fixed)
- ESP rotation sensor replaced (ESP stopped working)
- Forward SAN module replaced (3 times) for sponteaneously unlocking doors (still not fixed)
- Brake switch replaced (throttle would not respond)
- Differential seal's replaced (leaked)
- Fix right front window (loud noise when going down)
- Fixed left front window (squeeking noise)
- Fixed passegner headrest
- Replaced indicator light units (would sometimes refuse to work)
- Comand voice would change to static (upgraded comand software)
- Spontaneous coolant level low notice (unknown what they replaced, should be fixed)
- Right mirror wouldn't come back to original positiion when reversing (fixed, don't know what they did)
- Steering wheel creakes when moving up/down (fixed)
- Heavy shifting form 1st to 2nd. Not fixed.

I think that should be it...

 

Buell/Inverboom: OK, got your inputs-if I continue to get feedback, I will re-develop with a larger sample size and see what results. At the moment, the stats are skewed somewhat due to the larger # of Coupe replies. I have not included problems associated with aftermarket mod's (broken rims, damaged strut towers, audio changes etc. but if any interest I can run the program with those inputs).